2018 world cup draw

Iran's players stormed the pitch at full-time as if they had won the World Cup rather than just their opening match after an own goal from Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz gifted them a dramatic 1-0 victory on Friday (Jun 15). Morocco's goalkeeper Munir Mohand Mohamedi (left) makes a save against Iran during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B football match. (Paul ELLIS/AFP) Wasteful finishing looked to have consigned this compelling contest at the Saint Petersburg Stadium to a goalless draw but Bouhaddouz's mistake in injury-time means Iran emerge as the early challengers to Spain and Portugal in Group B. Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, once of Real Madrid and Manchester United, insisted the chaos that has engulfed Spain this week offered no boost to these teams' chances, but this victory certainly cranks the pressure up a notch. When Bouhaddouz nodded in at the near post, Iran's substitutes could not resist rushing onto the field and when the final whistle blew moments later they were … [Read more...] about World Cup: Iran grab late victory against Morocco

Asia's quartet of World Cup representatives failed to deliver a single victory four years ago and hopes of a turnaround in Russia are low, with continental powerhouses Japan and South Korea struggling for form. Asian anguish: Saudi Arabia's 5-0 thrashing by Russia got Asia's World Cup off to a terrible start. (AFP/Patrik STOLLARZ) Five nations qualified from the Asian confederation for the 2018 World Cup but Saudi Arabia's 5-0 thumping at the hands of the hosts in the tournament opener followed the pattern of miserable performances and results for Asian sides in Brazil. In the 16 years since Japan and South Korea hosted the tournament, with the latter reaching the semi-finals, they have each only made it beyond the group stages once, in 2010. Frenchman Philippe Troussier took Japan to the last 16 on home soil in 2002 but believes they have "no chance" of making the knockout phase this time despite avoiding the tournament favourites in their group. Japan sacked coach Vahid … [Read more...] about World Cup: Saudi thumping offers little hope for Asian upturn in Russia

Business in all World Cup related products and services has been booming in the build up to the world’s biggest sporting event, which kicks off tomorrow in Russia. Remote reach: Many people and businesses have leased TVs and projectors to watch and show World Cup matches. Photo: VnExpress Leading electronic retailers in Vietnam like Nguyen Kim, Dien May Xanh and Thien Hoa have reported a 30 percent spike in TV sales after the national television VTV obtained World Cup screening rights, according to Tuoi Tre. The renting of TVs and projectors has also spiked with many people choosing this way to enjoy the football World Cup this summer. Many TV rental services say they are overloaded. As of last weekend, some TV rental businesses stopped taking new orders. “We’ve leased 300-400 TVs and projectors so far, which is double in comparison to our normal sales,” said Thai Trinh, a representative of a TV rental company. Duc Long, a café owner, said he received … [Read more...] about In Vietnam, business fervor taps World Cup fever

Real Madrid on Tuesday (Jun 12) announced the appointment of Spain's Julen Lopetegui as their coach from next season, stunning the national team ahead of the start of the World Cup. Spain's coach Julen Lopetegui gives a thumb-up during a training session in Krasnodar Academy ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. (Pierre-Philippe MARCOU/AFP) "Real Madrid announce that Julen Lopetegui will be the coach of the first team during the next three seasons," the Champions League winners said in a statement, adding that the 51-year-old "will join the club after Spain's participation in the World Cup". Lopetegui will replace Zinedine Zidane as coach at the Santiago Bernabeu, after the Frenchman quit on May 31 in the wake of their Champions League final win over Liverpool in Kiev. The news comes as a jolt for Spain, just three days before their opening game at the Russian World Cup against Iberian neighbours Portugal in Sochi. Lopetegui and the Spain squad are currently … [Read more...] about Spain coach Lopetegui to take Real Madrid job after World Cup

Immediately sharing the rights to broadcast the 2018 World Cup to other domestic television and paid televisions such as HTV, Viettel, FPT, and shouting the price up to VND250 million for a 10-second advertising slot, it seem like that VTV has a strong effort to recover the price of the broadcasted rights as well as to seek a great profit from the world largest football league. VTV announced to own the right to broadcast the 2018 World Cup. Photo: thethaovanhoa.vn Price may be seven times higher than in 2006 VTV has just announced record advertising prices for the World Cup's final matches, including VND250 million ($11,013) for a 10-second advertising slot, VND300 million ($13,215) for a 15-second slot, VND375-million ($16,519) for a 20-second slot, and VND500-million ($22,026) for a 30-second slot. These prices increased by 40 per cent against those in 2014. After nearly two years of strained negotiations over the price of the broadcasting rights for the 2018 World … [Read more...] about VTV would entirely recover the price to broadcast the 2018 World Cup